Process for assembling ball bearing devices



March 26, 1968 w. s. SUTOWSKI 3,374,520

PROCESS FOR ASSEMBLING BALL BEARING DEVICES Original Filed Feb. 11, 19653 Sheets-Sheet 1 em I 29 2/ l6 1 2/ FIG. 22/ 278 INVENTOR. WALTER 5'.SUTUWSK/ F/G. 3 lag 71- March 26, 1968 w. s. SUTOWSKI 3,374,520

PROCESS FOR ASSEMBLING BALL BEARING DEVICES Original Filed Feb. 11, 19653 Sheets-Sheet 2 r 33 334 35 /5 4%! i /6 "i /9 2/ 20 28 23 325 J 'j J;

I 324 i F/G. 6

INVENTOR. WALTER S. SUTOWS/(l March 26, 1968 w. s. SUTOWSKI 3,374,520

PROCESS FOR ASSEMBLING BALL BEARING DEVICES Original Filed Feb. 11, 19653 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 3,374,520 PROCESS FOR ASSEMBLINGBALL BEARING DEVICES Walter S. Sutowski, 6976 Crestview Drive,Brecksville, Ohio 44141 Original application Feb. 11, 1965, Ser. No.431,852, now Patent No. 3,337,937, dated Aug. 27, 1967. Divided and thisapplication Mar. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 622,719

Claims. (Cl. 29--148.4)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Process for assembling race members togetherwith ball bearings positioned therebetween, the outer race member beingsplit and resiliently biased toward closed position, which includes thesupporting of the inner race member and positioning balls in a circledisposed in a horizontal plane in the raceway of the inner race member,temporarily confining the balls in position in the raceway of the innerrace member, and pressing the outer race member downwardly over theballs so as to position them in the raceway of the outer race member assaid temporary confinement is progressively withdrawn.

This application is a division of my application Ser. No. 431,852 filedFeb. 11, 1965, now Patent No. 3,337,937 entitled, Process for AssemblingBall Bearing Devices.

My invention relates to improved process for assembling ball bearingdevices having a split outer race.

An object of my invention is to provide improved processes forassembling ball bearing devices having a split outer race resilientlybiased toward contraction.

Another object is the provision for rapid and economical assembly ofball bearing devices wherein the outer race is resilient, such as ofresilient steel, and which is biased toward contraction, that is, towardclosing the gap between the opposed ends where the outer race is split.

Another object is the provision for improved automa' tion in the rapidand economical assembly of ball bearing devices having a split outerrace resiliently biased toward contraction.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had byreferring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through a preferred formof my apparatus and showing the parts in one stage of the assemblyoperation;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 1 and showing the parts ina subsequent stage of the assembly operation;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to that of FIGURES 1 and 2 and showing theparts in a still later stage of the assembly operation;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through the line 44 of FIGURE3;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form ofapparatus illustrating another manner of assembling a ball bearingdevice having a split outer race resiliently biased toward contraction;

FIGURE 6 is a view somewhat like that of FIGURE 5 but showing the partsthereof in a later stage of the assembly operation;

FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through still another modifiedform of apparatus illustrating another manner of assembling a ballbearing device having a split outer race resiliently biased towardcontraction;

FIGURE 8 is a view somewhat like that of FIGURE 7 but showing the partsin a later stage of the assembly operation;

3,374,520 Patented Mar. 26, 1968 FIGURE 9 is a longitudinal sectionalview of still another modified form of apparatus illustrating theassembling of a ball bearing device having a split outer raceresiliently biased toward contraction;

FIGURE 10 is a view somewhat like that of FIGURE 9 but showing a laterstage of the assembly operation;

FIGURE 11 is a view somewhat like that of FIGURES 9 and 10 but showing astill later stage of the assembly operation;

FIGURE 12 is a view somewhat like that of FIGURES 9, 10 and 11 butshowing a still later stage of the assembly operation; and

FIGURE 13 is a view somewhat like that of FIGURES 9, 10, 11 and 12 butshowing a still later stage of the assembly operation.

The bearing device illustrated in FIGURE 1 to 8, inclusive, is of thetype having a single circle of balls in opposed single raceways of aninner race member and an outer race member. The inner race member 15 isof the non-split type and in the form illustrated has a bore 17extending axially therethrough. The inner race member 15 has a racewayor annular groove 16 extending circumferentially therearound in theusual manner. The raceway 16 leaves lands or ridges 18 on opposite axialsides thereof which extend radially outward more than the bottom wall ofthe raceway 16.

There are a plurality of steel balls 19 arranged in a circle around thebearing device so as to freely revolve in the annular raceway 16. Thebearing device has a split outer race member 20 which is of resilientsteel, that is, resiliently biased toward contraction, that is, toward aclosed circular condition. The gap at the closed ends of the race member20 formed by the splitting thereof is denoted by the reference character23. The bias of the race member 20 is such that it tends to close thegap 23. However, resiliency of the race member 20 is such that it may beforcibly expanded so as to widen the gap 23 and thus to enlarge both theinner and outer circumference of the race member 20.

The race member 20 has a raceway or annular groove I 21 extendingcircumferentially around the inner wall thereof. This raceway 21, likethe raceway 16, has a contour complementing the spherical surface of theballs 19 and is adapted for the rolling engagement of the balls 19 inthe raceway 21 in the usual manner. There are lands or ridges 22 on theopposite axial sides of the raceway 21 which lands 22 extend radiallyinward more than the bottom wall of the raceway 21.

The apparatus for assembling the ball bearing device in FIGURES 1, 2, 3and 4 includes a fixed centrally disposed support 25 which supports theinner race member 15 in a generally horizontal plane as illustrated. Acentering pin 28 carried by the end of the support 25 engages in thebore 17 of the inner race member 15 so as to orient the inner racemember in proper position. On the upper end of the support 25, there isan annular flange portion 25A protruding therefrom for aiding in thesupport of the balls 19 during the assembly operation.

Surrounding and concentrically disposed around the support 25 is a shellor cylinder 26 also in fixed position. As shown, the shell 26 is spacedradially outward from the support 25. A movable collar 27 is mountedconcentrically around the support 25 and within the shell 26. The collar27 is movable in an axial direction relative to the support 25 and shell26 and, as seen, the support 25 and shell 26 guide the collar 27 in itsaxial movement. The shell 26 has an inner shoulder 26A and the collar 27has an outer shoulder 27A, which shoulders are aligned to abut eachother. The shoulders 26A and 27A thus limit upward movement of thecollar 27.

Positioned below and engaging the collar 27 is a coil spring 30 which isso anchored and biased as to resiliently urge the collar 27 upwardly,that is, toward its position shown in FIGURE 1. The collar 27 has aninner inclined shoulder 27B which acts as a funnel or guide for movingthe balls 19 radially inward toward the raceway 16 upon the balls 19being dropped down into the open end of the collar 27 when the innerrace member 15 is in position but with the outer race member 20 not yetin the position shown in FIGURE 1.

The apparatus includes a punch or pressing tool 29 which is so mountedand operated by a pressing mechanism as to forcefully move the punch 29downwardly in an axial direction toward the support 25 and shell 26. Thepunch 29 has an annular flange 29A extending therearound which isdimensioned and shaped to engage the top. surface of the outer racemember 20 when disposed in a generally horizontal plane and parallel tothe plane of the inner race member 15.

In the assembly of the ball bearing device with the apparatusillustrated in FIGURES 1 t 4, inclusive, the nest is in the positionshown in FIGURE 1 wherein the collar 27 is in its upper position. Theinner race member 15 is placed upon the top of the support 25 and overthe centering pin 28 as shown. The required number of balls 19 are thenintroduced into the annular space between the collar 27 and the innerrace member 15. The inclined shoulder 27B funnels the balls 19downwardly and around to form a circle of balls located in the raceway16 as shown in the drawing. Next the split outer race 20 in itscontracted condition is placed downwardly upon the circle of balls 19 tothe position shown in FIGURE 1. It is to be noted that the lower inneredge of the outer race member 20 engages the surface of the balls atlocations which are radially outward of a reference cylinder coincidingwith the centers of the plurality of balls. When so arranged, the outerround surface of the balls provides a camming surface for forcefullyexpanding the outer race member 20 when the outer race member 20 isbeing forcefully moved downwardly against the balls. The flange portion25A aids in supporting the balls in position. The raceway 16, the flangeportion 25A and the inclined shoulder 27B together cooperate to retainthe balls 19 in the position shown in FIGURE 1.

The punch 29 is then forcefully moved downwardly in an axial directionto press the outer race member 20 downwardly against the balls 19. Theballs 19 cammingly force the outer race member 20 to expand against theresilient bias thereof and to thus clear the balls 19 in the raceway 21of the outerrace member 20. An intermediate step of this downwardmovement of the outer race member 20 is shown in FIGURE 2 wherein therace member 20 has expanded substantially to the maximum amountrequired. Further downward movement of the punch 29 presses the outerrace member 20 still further from its position shown in FIGURE 2 to itsposition shown in FIGURE 3. Here the resilient bias of the outer racemember 20 toward contraction has caused the outer race member 20 tocontract about the balls 19 as soon as the raceway 21 of the outer racemember 20 is opposite the raceway 16 of the inner race member 15. InFIGURE 2 the balls 19 have engaged the inclined shoulder 27B but to makeroom for the outer race member 20 to move down and around the balls 19,it is necessary that the collar 27 move downwardly sufliciently toaccommodate the outer race member 20 around and below the balls 19. Theresilient bias of the coil spring 30 is such as to cause the collar 27to yield to downward pressure of the punch 29 against the outer racemember 20 which in turn presses downwardly upon the shoulder 27B. Theposition of the collar 27 on its downward position is illustrated inFIG- URE 3.

Upon the raising of the punch 29 upwardly and out of the way, theresilient bias of the spring 30 tends to raise the outer race member 20and with it the balls 19 and inner race member 15. The thus assembledball bearing device may be removed from the nest and is ready for lateruse or assembly with the parts with which it is to be associated. Withthe punch 29 raised and up out of the way, the parts of the nest resumethe position shown in FIGURE 1 and another cycle of assembly may beinstituted and the operation as described repeated.

In the assembly operation illustrated in connection with FIGURES 5 and6, there is utilized an apparatus including a fixed cylindrical supportor shell 31 to which is fixedly connected or mounted a sleeve support32, parts 31 and 32 being joined together. Mounted axially within theshell 31 and sleeve 32 is a support 34. The support 34 is resilientlybiased upwardly by a coil spring 35. The support 34 has an outershoulder 34A axially aligned with an inner shoulder 32A of the sleeve32, whereby the shoulders 32A and 34A may abut to limit upwardlymovement of the movable support 34 within the sleeve 32.

The shell 31 has an annular recess 31A at its upper end foraccommodating therein an outer race member 20, the diameter of theannular recess 31A being substantially greater than the maximum outerdiameter of the outer race member 20 even in its expanded condition. Thesleeve 32 has an annular flange 32B extending upwardly therefrom asillustrated for aiding in the support of the balls 19 arranged in acircle in the raceway 21 of the outer race member 20, the flange 32Bprotruding upwardly into the annular recess 31A. There is provided inthe apparatus a punch or pressing tool 33 movable axially downwardlytoward the nest made up of parts 31, 32 and 34. This punch33 has a noseportion 33A adapted to complementarily enter the upper end of the bore17 of inner race member 15.

In the assembly of the bearing device in association with the apparatusof FIGURES 5 and 6, the nest is arranged wherein the support 34 is inits upper position as shown in FIGURE 5. The outer race member 20 isthen positioned in its contracted condition within the annular recess31A so as to dispose the outer race member 20 in a generally horizontalplane as illustrated. Prior to the positioning of the inner race member15 over the support 34, the required number of balls 19 are introducedinto the raceway 21 of the outer race member 20. The inclined or taperedsurface 34B at the upper end of the support 34 helps funnel the balls 19downwardly and outwardly to form a circle of balls in the raceway 21 ofthe outer race member 20. The inclined surface 34B, the annular flange32B and the raceway 21 together aid in supporting the plurality of balls19 in the circular arrangement within the raceway 21. After the ballsare introduced to their position shown in FIGURE 5, then the inner racemember 15 is positioned upon the top of the raised support 34, thecentering pin 28 holding the inner race member 15 in proper axialalignment with the outer race member 20. Thereafter, the punch 33 ismoved downwardly to engage the top of the inner race member 15 andfurther forcefully moved downwardly to press the inner race member 15down to Within the circle of balls 19 and concentrically of the outerrace member 20. Upon the lower and outer annular edge of the inner racemember 15 engaging the surface of the balls 19 at locations radiallyinward of a reference cylinder coinciding with the centers of the circleof balls, the balls 19 are cammingly urged radially outward as the innerrace member descends. This forced radial outward movement of the balls19 forcefully expands the outer race member 20 sufficiently to enablethe lower land 18 of the inner race member 15 to clear the balls 19 andthus permit the raceway 16 to be disposed opposite the raceway 21 atwhich location the balls 19 are positioned within the op posed raceways16 and 21 as shown in FIGURE 6. Upon reaching this position wherein theballs are accommodated in the opposed raceways, the outer race member 20resiliently contracts around the balls 19 and the parts To accommodatethe downward movement of the inner race member relative to the outerrace member 20, the support 34 yields so as to move downwardly from theposition shown in FIGURE 5 to the position shown in FIGURE 6. Thisyielding is resiliently opposed by the resilient bias of the coil spring35 urging the support 34 upwardly. Upon the punch 33 being raised and upout of the way, the bias of the spring 35 tends to raise the support 34,the support'34 in turn raises the inner race member 15 and with it theballs 19 and outer race member 20. The assembled bearing device may thenbe removed from the nest and the cycle of operation again started byplacing another inner race member 15 upon the top of the raised support34.

A still further manner of assembling the ball bearing device having thesplit outer race resiliently biased toward contraction is illustrated inFIGURES 7 and 8. In the apparatus of FIGURES 7 and 8, there is fixedcylindrical support or shell 36 and a fixed support 37 concentricallymounted within the shell 36. A movable collar 38 is concentricallymounted around the support 37 and within the shell 36, the opposed wallsof parts 36 and 37 guiding the movement of the collar 38 axially of thenest made up of parts 36, 37 and 38. For moving the collar 38 in anaxial direction in the required sequence of steps, there is provided amechanism 39 which actuates the collar 38. This mechanism 39 isillustrated diagrammatically in the drawing as a camming mechanism whichis arranged to raise the collar 38 toits position shown in FIGURE 7 andto lower the collar 38 to its position shown in FIGURE 8. Shell 36 hasan inner shoulder 36A and the collar 38 has an outer shoulder 38Adisposed in axial alignment so as to abut and limit the upward movementof the collar 38 to the relative position of the parts shown in FIGURE7.

The upper end portion 38B of the collar 38 is rounded so as to provide atapered camming surface engageable with the lower inner edge portion ofan outer race member 20. The taper or shape of the upper edge portion38B of the collar 38 is such as to forcefully cause the outer racemember to expand upon the movement of the collar 38 upwardly into thegap between the concentric. inner and outer race members. As seen inFIGURE 7, upon the collar 38 being in its upper position, the outer racemember 20 supported by the shell 36 in the annular recess 36B thereof isforced to expand and is maintained in the expanded condition by theupper edge portion 38B of the collar 38.

In the assembly of the bearing device in the manner illustrated inFIGURES 7 and 8, the inner race member 15 is placed upon the support 37with the centering pin 28 in the bore 17 of the inner race member 15.The outer race member 20 is placed down in a horizontal plane in theannular recess 36B where it is supported by the shell 36. Onealternative way of expanding the outer race member is to have the collar38 positioned upwardly and to force the outer race member 20 down overthe upper edge portion 38B of the raised collar 38 and thus camminglyforce the race member to expand. Another alternative way is to hold theouter race member 20 downwardly on the shell 36 and then to have thecollar 38 forcibly raised upwardly by the mechanism 39, thus forciblycausing the upper edge portion 38B to rise upwardly in the gap betweenthe race members and to thus cammingly force the outer race member 20 toexpand. The outer race member 20 is shown expanded in either manner inFIGURE 7. The plurality of balls 19 are then arranged in a circle at theupper gap between the concentric race members as shown in FIGURE 7. Herethe opposed upper lands of the race members tend to frictionally engagethe balls 19 if the outer race member is not sulficiently expanded. Ifthe outer race member is sufficiently expanded, then the balls 19 mayfall down within the opposed raceways to form a circle of balls restingon the top of the upper edge portion 38B of collar 38.

To overcome any resistance encountered by the balls entering the gapbetween the concentric race members, and to force the balls 19downwardly to a location intermediate the opposed raceways of the racemembers, the punch 40 is moved downwardly. The punch 40 has an annularflange portion 40A arranged to engage the top surfaces of the circle ofballs 19 and to forcibly push the balls downwardly from the positionshown in FIGURE 7 to the position shown in FIGURE 8. To allow the outerrace member to contract around the balls 19, it is necessary to withdrawthe collar 38 so as to remove the upper edge portion 38B from within theouter race member 20. This withdrawal may be effected by the mechanism39 operatively connected to the collar 38 so as to move the collar 38downwardly as the punch 40 moves downwardly and as the outer race member20 contracts about the balls 19 as shown in FIGURE 8. After the punch 40is raised and up out of the way, then the assembly bearing device may beremoved from the nest and the cycle of operation repeated by placinganother inner race member 15 on the support 37 and another outer racemember 20 in the annular recess 36B.

A still further process and apparatus used for assembling ball bearingdevices having the split outer race resiliently biased towardcontraction is illustrated in FIG- URES 9 to 13, inclusive. The bearingdevice illustrated in connection with this later form of apparatus andprocess has two circles of balls and hence two sets of opposed raceways.Inner race member 42 has two raceways 43 and 44 axially spaced from eachother around the annular surface of the inner race member 42. There aretwo sets of balls 45 each set being arranged in a circle within opposedraceways of the respective race member. The outer race member 46 hasraceways 47 and 48 axially spaced from each other along the inner wallof the outer race member 46. In the bearing device illustrated, it isdesired that the raceways 43 and 44 of the inner race member 42 aresomewhat deeper than are the raceways 47 and 48 of the outer race member46.

The apparatus utilized in this process of assembly has a fixedcylindrical support or shell 49 and positioned axially of the shell 49is a central support 50. This support 50 is movable in an axialdirection within the shell 49. Mounted concentrically around the support50 and within the shell 49 is a collar 52 which collar 52 is alsomovable axially within the shell 49. The collar 52 has an outer shoulder52A axially aligned with an inner shoulder 49A of the shell 49, whichshoulders upon abutment limit upward movement of the collar 52 to itsposition shown in FIGURE 9. A coil spring 53 positioned under the collar52 and engaging the collar, and suitably anchored, is resiliently biasedto resiliently urge the collar 52 upwardly toward its position shown inFIGURE 9. A mechanism is preferably provided for moving the support 50axially relative to the shell 49 during the sequence of steps in theoperation. This mechanism is illustrated diagrammatically as a cammingmechanism 51 so arranged and operatively connected to the support 50 asto move the support 50 through the steps of operation herein described.

The assembly of the bearing device is commenced with the nest in itsposition illustrated in FIGURE 9, that is, wherein the collar 52 is inits uppermost position and the support 50 is in its uppermost position.An inner race member 42 is positioned upon the support 50 so as tolocate the stem portion 42A of the inner race member 42 within acentering recess in the support 50. With the inner race member 42 thusin its position shown in FIGURE 9, a plurality of balls 45 suflicient innumber to complete one circle of balls in a raceway is introduced to thenest. The inclined surface 49B of the shell 49 tends to funnel the balls45 downwardly and around in a circle to position the balls 45 in thelower raceway 44. The raceway .44 together with the upper edge portionof the collar 52 supports the balls 45 in the position shown. A firstpunch axial direction so as to press the inner race member 42 downwardlyfrom its position shown in FIGURE 9 to its position shown in FIGURE 10.To accommodate the downward movement of the inner race member 42, thesupport 50 is'concurrently moved downwardly by the mechanism 51. Thisforced downward movement of the inner race member 42 forces the firstcourse or circle of balls within the raceway 44 downwardly to within thecollar 52. Thus the collar 52 acts to confine the balls 45 and to retainthem in the lower raceway 44. While the inner race member 42 is in itsposition shown in FIGURE '10 another set of balls 45 is introduced inthe same manner so as to form another circle of balls in the upperraceway 43 at the top of the collar 52. Further downward movement of thepunch 54 forces the inner race member 42 still further downward to itsposition shown in' FIG- 'URE 1-1 wherein both circles or courses ofballs 45 are confined within the collar 52' and maintained within therespective raceways 44 and 43. The mechanism 51 has correspondinglymoved the support 50 downwardly to accommodate for the further downwardmovement of the inner race member 42. V

With the parts positioned as shown in FIGURE 11, the punch 54 is raisedand moved out of the way. Then the outer racemember 46 is placed on topof and in axial alignment with the collar 52. A second punch 55 havingan annular flange portion 55A on its lower end is then moved downwardlyso as to press the flange portion 55A downwardly upon the top surface ofthe outer race mempunch 55 causes the outer race member 46 to becammingly forced against the outer round surface of the balls 45 andthus to forcefully expand the outer race member 46 from its normallycontracted condition to its expanded condition shown in FIGURE 12. Themechanism 51 maintains the support 50 in the opertaion shown in FIGURE12 at its same relative position as shown in FIGURE 11. However, thecoil spring 53 has permitted the collar 52 ber 46. The initial downwardmovement of the second to move downwardly in the shell 49 so asto'accommodate r the downward movement of the outer race member 46within the shell 49, which outer race member 46 has pushed the collar 52downwardly against the bias of the 7 spring 53.

The punch 55 is progressively pushed further downwardly from itsposition illustrated in FIGURE 12 to its position illustrated in FIGURE13. Here the outer race member 46 is moved downwardly so that therespective raceways of the race members are disposed in Opposition toeach other whereby the balls of each circle of balls enter the opposedraceways of the inner and outer race members. When in this location; theouter race member 46 resiliently contracts about the balls 45 so asfirmly hold the balls 45 in their respective raceways. This location ofthe balls and the contracted condition of the outer race member 46 isillustrated in'FIGURE 13. To accommodate for the further-downwardmovement of the outer race member 46 from its position shown in FIGURE12 to its position shown in FIGURE 13, the spring 53 has been furthercompressed by the forced downward movement of the collar 52 and by thedownward movement of the outer race member 46 against the top of thecollar 52. Upon the parts of the bearing device reaching the conditionillustrated in FIGURE 13, the bearing device is as sembled. The punch 55is then raised and moved out of the way, the support 50 is movedupwardly by the mechanism 51, and the collar 52 is raised upwardly bythe spring 53. The assembled bearing is then ready to be removed fromthe nest. The nest is then ready for beginning another cycle ofoperation for the assembly in like manner of another bearing device. Itis to be noted that the mechanism 51 progressively moves the support 50from its raised position shown in FIGURE 9 to its position shown inFIGURE 10, thence to its lower position shown in FIGURES ll, 12 and -13It is also to be noted v that the collar 52 moves from its raisedposition where it is supported by the spring 53 as shown in FIGURES 9,10 and 11 and then the collar 52 moves downwardly through its positionshown in FIGURE 12 to its lower position shown in FIGURE 13. Thereafterthe support 50 and collar 52 rise again to their original positionsshown in FIGURE 9 for commencement of another cycle of V assemblyoperation.

It is to be noted that by the unique apparatus and novel a a processdescribed in connection with the several figures,

bearing devices of this type may be rapidly, efliciently andeconomically assembled.

The present disclosure includes that contained in the' appended claims,as well as that of the foregoing de scription.

Although this invention has been described in its pre-I ferred form andpreferred practice with a certain degree of particularity, it isunderstood that the present disclo- V 7 sure has been made only by wayof example and thatnumerous changes in the details of constructionand'the combination and arrangement of parts and steps may be resortedto without departing from the spirit and scopev of the invention ashereinafter'claimed.

What is claimed is: 1. The process of assembling into a ball bearingdevice an inner race member, a pluarlity of balls, and a split outer Irace member resiliently biasedtoward contraction, comprising the stepsof supporting the inner race member, introducing balls arranged in acircle into the raceway of the inner race member, maintaining the ballsin said raceway. of said inner race memberby a confining collarpositioned concentrically of the inner race member and movable axiallyrelative to the inner race member out-' collar to displace the same andto move the outer race member to locate the raceways of the respectiverace membersin opposition to each other and allowing the outer racemember to contract about the balls in the opposed raceways.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1 and including the step ofresiliently opposing the displacement of said col 7 lar by the outerrace member to continue to maintain the balls in the raceway of theinner race member until the outer race member is around said balls.

3. The process of assembling into a ballbearing device an inner racemember, a plurality of balls, and a split outer race member biasedtoward contraction, comprising the steps of placing the inner racemember on a support, tunneling balls into the raceway of the inner racemember to form a circle of balls therein, moving the sup- 7 port andinner race member thereon into a collar to confine the balls in saidraceway by the collar about said circle of balls, moving an outer racemember against said collar and simultaneously withdrawing the collarfrom about said balls to replace the collar with said outer race memberradially outward of said balls, said moving of the outer race memberagainst the collar simultaneously pressing the outer race member againstsaid balls and around said balls to cause the balls to cammingly expandsaid outer race member sufliciently to clear said balls, said outer racemember contractingabout said balls upon the raceway of the race membersbeing positioned in opposi-' tion.

4. The process as claimed in claim 3 and includingth'e step of providingresilient opposition to the r'eplacement of said collar by said outerrace memberto assure successive confinement of .said balls in theraceway of the inner race member during said operation of replacement.

5. The process of assembling into a ball bearing device an inner racemember, a plurality of balls, and a split outer race member resilientlybiased toward contraction, comprising the steps of placing the innerrace member on a central support within a nest structure having a boreaccommodating the central support and having a funnel wall inclinedtoward said bore, and a collar concentrically mounted within the neststructure about said central support, tunneling said balls down thefunnel wall to form a circle of balls in a raceway of said inner racemember, pressing said inner race member and balls downwardly within saidnest structure and concurrently moving said central support downwardlyin the nest structure to position the balls in said raceway within saidcollar to maintain the balls in said raceway, and pressing said outerrace member downwardly on said collar and in axial alignment therewithand concurrently moving said collar downwardly in said nest structure topermit the outer race member to replace the collar about said balls formaintaining the balls in the raceway of the inner race member as thecollar is replaced, said pressing of the outer race member also pressingthe outer race member against said balls at locations radially outwardof a reference cylinder coinciding with the centers of said ballswhereby said balls cammingly expand the outer race member to clear theballs and allow the outer race member upon the respective raceways ofthe race members being disposed in opposition to contract about saidballs.

References Cited THOMAS H. EAGER, Primary Examiner.

